Day 17 - Sainte-Maxime, France to Le Lavandou, France

After a delicious continental breakfast (love that hot chocolate, baguette and croissant), we said farewell to our guest rider, Micke. Today was a relatively short journey, with one group opting for a ferry to St. Tropez, and the other riding straight from Sainte-Maxime to Le Lavandou (41km). The first group didn't spend long at all in St. Tropez, but took for the hills with a lovely climb through the thick woods before La Croix Valmer, adding on 7km to the day's total. The exception was Mike, who chose to explore St. Tropez at length, taking in its narrow cobble stone streets, bridges and handsome Citadel on a hill. He also took a second ferry to lovely Port Grimaud, and a motorized gondola after that, and still wound up with the same distance as those who went direct to Lavandou.

A major factor for all of us, regardless the path, was the wind which remained at 15 to 20 mph at minimum all day, but also pounded us with intermittent gusts of great power (and equally great quantities of dust and debris in the face). The gales were at the worst toward the latter half of the ride, but countering them were the lovely views of Mediterranean cliffs and water, and those deliciously fragrant purple flowers. The strong heat was also all but canceled out by the wind.

With such a short distance, we all had ample time to relax in Le Lavandou, and to explore its lovely beach front, pottery shops and other boutiques. Options for an early dinner were looking grim as places were either not yet opened or requiring reservations, but a lovely Italian restaurant at the end of town (appropriately named Terminus) was happy to have our business, and fed us plentifully and well. For the Americans, July 4th might have passed without any acknowledgment, as the days (especially without TV or paper news) tend to blur into another. But AJ wore his American flag bandana, and we made a little toast to the holiday. Rob made his own fireworks with his 30th cup of gelato on the tour.

Quotes of the Day
"Day 48: We finally ran out of food."
-John envisions an extended tour

Rider of the Day: Nathan
1. What was your best day so far?
It's hard to say. I liked Day 2: the riding, crossing the border into Croatia, and the climb at the end. And Bastia to L'Ile Rousse: super scenery and just fun.

2. What was your worst day/moment?
Trying to sleep in that place in Senigallia with the trains going by all night and that bed from hell. It was so hot I was dying.

3. Why did you decide to go on the tour?
To see two new countries and ride with my friends and family in Europe.

4. Favorite gelato flavor(s)?
Lemon.

5. Are there any items in your CamelBak you haven't touched or used this tour?
I have everything in my bag to change a flat tire, and happily have never had to use it.

6. Are you collecting anything?
Photos of beers I've drunk.

7. What was your favorite bathroom/lodging this tour?
For lodging: Zadar. We got to cook, we had apartments, and it was awesome. Way beyond my expectations.

8. If you could change anything about your uni, what would it be?
Lighter rim, tire, and tube. Pretty much lighter everything.

9. What were your favorite two or three films of the last 10 years?
Contact, and Safety Last (1923).

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Created: Saturday, July 07, 2007 14:13